IN FROZEN CANADA

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1929, Page 5

IN FROZEN CANADA

LOSSES OF AIRMEN

MANY CASUALTIES

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

(Received this day at 10 a.m.) VANCOUVER, November 3

The hazardous nature of winter aeroplnning m Canada’s frozen north was illustrated by a dramatic fatality at Mayo, on the southern edge ol Canadian Klondike, about the same hour that news came of the disappearance of two Alaskan Airways planes, piloted by Eilson, the famous companion of Wilkins, and Frank Derbandt.

The plane was taking off along the bank of the Stewart on an iced runway and rose.only a few feet when it suddenly fell. Pilot Patterson, who had not the slightest chance of extricating himself, was drowned when the plane sank beneath the ice.

Several planes have been operating between Mayo innd .Skaeway, accomplishing in five hours, trips which occupy weeks for dog teams. Eielson and Derbant are long overdue from Nome, Alaska, to East Cape, Siberia, where they expected to pick up six passengers and a valuable fur cargo. It is feared the hea\y snow storms forced the planes down. The AVeaipine party is still missing in the Hudson’s Bay country. Two ’planes with a millionaire and mining men disappeared eight weeks ago into the frozen north and a search has been made by planes which have flown a hundred thousand miles, but not the slightest sign of them has been seen, The supposition is that the planes landed in some remote lake and they were frozen solid, and were unable to move. The fliers have probably already starved to death.